Exercise in pregnancy reduces size of offspring, study suggests

[Source: ScienceDaily] - According to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, regular moderate-intensity aerobic exercise led to a modest reduction in offspring birth weight without restricting the development of maternal insulin resistance.

There is a large body of evidence demonstrating the influence of the in utero environment on growth trajectory in postnatal life. Increased size at birth is associated with greater risk for the development of obesity in childhood. This study is the first to demonstrate a significant effect of non-weight bearing exercise (such as stationary cycling) on birth weight.